Shipping container



March 11, 1930. l. WARNER SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed April 17, 1929 AN 40M9 900 uqopuw a a o w 5 M Am? W,

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Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES IRVING WARNER, OF WILMINGTON,

SHIPPING CONTAINER Application filed. April 17,

This invention relates to shipping containers, especially to containersof the mailing tube type. More particularly, it relates to a containerof the character described which may be repeatedly sent back and forthbetween two senders.

It is sometimes necessary that an article of merchandise or certainbusiness papers or drawings be repeatedly sent back and forth betweentwo senders. For example, a fountain pen may be sent to a purchaser bythe manufacturer, and the purchaser may later send the pen back forrepairs. After the re pairs are made, the pen is returned to thepurchaser. This sendingand returning may occur many times.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tubular containerdesigned to facilitate the handling of merchandise, papers, etc.,

repeatedly transmitted between two senders, by having permanentlysecured to the mailing tube two separate addresses with a movable memberadapted to cover one of said addresses, alternatively and selectively.

Another object of the invention is to provide. a mailing tube having twocomplete address labels thereon, each label bearing the name, etc., ofan addressee and of a sender, the names being reversed on the two labelsso that the sender on one label appears as addressee 0n the other, withreadily adjustable means to expose one only of the two labels.

These'and further objects will appear from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing where- Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a cylindrical container embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with the seal partly broken away, andy Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified form with the shield partlybroken away.

A tubular container 1 is shown as of the mailing tube type and comprisestwo telescoping sections meeting along a central line 2, the surfaces ofthe sections being flush. Although I have illustrated a cylindricalcontainer, it will be understood that it may be oval or polygonal incross-section.

Permanently secured to the tube 1 and each 1529. seria No. 855,768.

occupying"approximately half thelength of the tube are two addresslabels 3 and 4. These labels 3 and 4 have the same names andaddresses/thereon, the names and addresses being reversed however asregards sender and addressee. As seen in Fig. 1, label 3 indicates thatthe container is being sent to the RoePen Corporation, 154 School St.,Boston, Mass.

by John Doe,"25 Blank Sti, New York,

N. Y. "()nlabel f, however, the container is addressed to ohn Doe and isbeing sent by the Rue Pen Corporation. a

y In order that only one of labels 3 and 4 mayb e xposeda slidabileshield '5 is provided. The shield 5 consists of a cardboard or othersuitable tube slightly larger in diameter than the container 1 and ofcorresponding cross section, and having a sliding fit thereon. Shield 5i approximately half the length of tube '1 so thatit covers up one ofthe labels 3 and 4 and leaves the other exposed.

' In order that shield 5 may not be slid completely off tube 1, endflanges 6 and 7 may be provided on tube 1, these flanges projectingoutwardly, as seen.

The shield 5 is adapted to be secured in either of its two positions bythe postage stamps when the tube is mailed, or by gummed paper 8, asseen in Fig. 2, or by a rubber band, or any other appropriate means.

It is believed that the operation is obvious.

When the container is to be sent to the Roe Pen Corporation, John Doewould simply slide the shield 5 to the position shown in Fig. 1 andsecure it by stamps, gummed paper or otherwise. When the container is tobe returned to John Doe, the Roe Pen Corporation would slide the shield5 to the other end of the container, secure it there, and forward thetube. It will thus be apparent that the shipping of small articles,papers, etc., is greatly facilitated by the use of the inventiondescribed. i

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the address label 3 is turnedupside down as re- 9 gards label 4 so that the return label will lengthof the container, it will be obvious that they may be much smaller, theonly essential being that the shield 5 be of sulficient len h to coverone complete label. It will also e obvious that the particular type ofmailing tube is immaterial since one with a reimovable end, or any othertype, could be use Obviously too, the addresses may be printed orotherwise applied directly to the container, instead of employing labelspasted to the same.

These and various other modifications may be made without departing frommy invention as expressed in t e accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A shipping containerhaving a plurality of com lete shippingaddressesthereon, and a shield slidably movable on said shipping container forcompletely covering one or the other of said shipping addresses,selectively, while leaving the other entirely exposed.

2. The structure as in claim 1 wherein means is said shiel in position.7

3. A shipping container comprising a cylindrical tube, a plurality ofshipping addresses thereon, and a c lindricalshield closely surroundingand sli able on said shipping container for selectively covering one orthe other of said shipping addresses.

4. The structure as in claim 3 wherein said shi ping container has meansadjacent each en thereof to prevent said shield from being slidcompletely off said container.

In testlmony whereof, I afiix my si nature.

IRVING WAR ER.

(provided for temporarily securing

